McPHERSON - It might move at a snail's pace, but the gleaming red and green trolley has gained popularity here at record-breaking speed.

Wednesday

Dec 10, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 10, 2008 at 5:00 PM

Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News - khanks@hutchnews.com

While Christmas music plays softly, a driver steers the vehicle through neighborhoods twinkling in the December night, giving the holiday spirit to even the Scrooges riding along.

Hot off the assembly line, the new streetcar has been in town since mid-June, keeping Judy Casey, director of the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau, quite busy.

In the coming weeks of December, she has coordinated about 40 private and public Christmas light tours.

"I can't believe how popular the Christmas lights tour has become," Casey said.

While part of the "Home for the Holidays" promotion sponsored by the chamber of commerce, the CVB and Main Street, the new trolley has been a proven winner since arriving in town just in time for the summer's garden tour.

The 22-seat, handicapped-accessible vehicle was purchased for $109,000, from transient guest tax collections from local motels.

"It was purchased by the city to market the city and bring people in to visit McPherson," Casey said.

Five drivers, all with CDL licenses, rotate driving the trolley.

"Not a festival goes by without us using it," Casey said.

Along with historical tours and industrial tours, the trolley was used for the recent Veterans Day parade, carrying veterans unable to march.

People rent the trolley for weddings, reunions and other special events that might require several seats.

Wednesday night, clients and staff of Disability Supports of The Great Plains road in the heated bus, Christmas music playing, enjoying a private tour.

"I've been getting calls all day asking, 'What time do I ride?' " said Disability Supports activities director Robin Davis, Wednesday afternoon. She had been on a historical tour this summer, but thought the Christmas tour would be especially fun.

"We're going to see all the lights and hear the music," Davis said. And while they've done this in the past, it took multiple car rides. "This way we're going to all see it, taking 44 people, filling the trolley twice."

IF YOU GO

What: Christmas Light Trolley Tours

When: 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 18

Cost: $5 for adults; $4 for children ages 5 to 18 and senior citizens; free for those under 5. (Tickets are available at the opera house before the ride.)

Also: The tour includes cookies, hot cider and a visit from Father Christmas.